Automatic ice making apparatus



1961 E. B. ARCHER 2,994,204

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed March 31, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. Fen/v B. flea/7'5 BP. x/AQA 1961 E. B. ARCHER 2,994,204

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed March 51, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. ERA G 5. A cHE mu! paw Aug. 1961 E. B. ARCHER 2,994,204

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed March '31, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTORI [Ru/V6 48 MW? M g- 1, 1961 E. B. ARCHER 2,994,204

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed March 31, 1958 5 SheetsSheet 4 U] Im IN VENTOR. Emma 15. fle /1 9 T BYMPM 1, 1961 E. B. ARCHER 2,994,204

AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING APPARATUS Filed March 51, 1958 5 Sheets-Sheet 5LNVENTOR'.

12. &1. NW? Aye/ 16g BY I .I

2,994,204 AUTOMATIC ICE MAKING APPARATUS Erling B. Archer, 33-74 191stSt., Flushing, N.Y. Filed Mar. 31, 1958, Ser. No. 725,159 19 Claims.((11. 62-127) This invention relates to means for substantiallycontinuously and automatically producing, harvesting and storing blocksof ice, commonly called ice cubes, in a household refrigerator.

There is available on the market at the present time, for use inhousehold refrigerators, a number of ice cube making devices, some ofwhich are fully automatic and provide a continuous supply of ice cubes,while others are semi-automatic or even non-automatic in that theyrequire removal of a formed batch of cubes from the storage bin and/ ormanual emptying of the ice mold or tray prior to the formation of thenext batch of ice cubes. Several of such ice makers further requirethermostatically controlled heating means in cooperative relationshipwith the ice mold for loosening the ice cubes from the mold surfaces soas to enable associated gripper and/or conveyor means to remove thecubes from the mold. By their very nature, these ice makers stillfurther entail the provision of means for drying the wet surfaces of theremoved ice cubes prior to transfer of the latter to the storage bin. Inaddition, a permanent connection of the cube freezing apparatus to thewater supply main of the house is necessary, which may entail having therefrigerator disposed in an undesirable location or the provision ofextra piping if the refrigerator is not disposed immediately adjacentthe main.

For the foregoing and a variety of other reasons the known ice cubemaking devices or apparatus have failed to find full acceptance in themarket. As will be readily appreciated, they are extremely expensive toproduce and difiicult to incorporate or install in commonly availablerefrigerators. Moreover, with respect to those devices which are lessthan fully automatic, proper functioning thereof depends on constantattention by the possessor of the refri erator, and since freezing of anew batch of cubes in such non-automatic devices cannot be initiateduntil the preceding batch has been removed from the mold, thepossibility of an insufficient supply of cubes in the event of a sudden,heavy demand therefor is always present.

It is, therefore, an important object of the present invention toprovide novel ice cube making devices which are substantially automaticin operation and free of the disadvantages and drawbacks inherent inknown devices of this type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide automatic icemaking apparatus greatly simplified in construction and capable of beingemployed with all refrigerators having a freezer compartment normallymaintained at a temperature below the freezing point of water.

A specific object of the present invention is to provide automatic icecube making apparatus in which predetermined control elements includingvalve means incorporated in conduit means leading from a Water storagetank disposed exteriorly of the refrigerator to an ice mold or traylocated interiorly of the freezer compartment of the refrigerator arecombined with electromechanical means so as to efiect in timed sequencethe ejection of a formed batch of ice cubes from the mold into ice cubestoring means located in the said freezer compartment, and the refillingof the tray with a fresh supply of water to be frozen into a furtherbatch of ice cubes.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of automaticice making apparatus characterized by a patented Aug. 1, 1961 Waterstorage tank and a metering tank both located exteriorly of therefrigerator, and an ice mold or tray, from which ice cubes can beeasily ejected, as well as ice cube storing means both locatedinteriorly of the freezer compartment of the refrigerator, incombination with electromechanical means for controlling the flow ofwater from said storage tank through said metering tank and into saidmold and for simultaneously controlling the ejection of cubes from thelatter for transfer to said storing means.

Concurrently, it is also an object of the present invention to provide aspecially constructed ice mold or tray which may be tiltably mounted inthe refrigerator freezer compartment and impacted as a result ofoperation of the electromechanical means to cause ejection of the icecubes from the mold.

An associated object of the invention is, therefore, the provision of amold or tray having a rigid frame, a deformable, elastic body in whichthe ice cubes are formed, and a non-deformable reinforcing member orthickened portion at the base of the mold body, which reinforcing memberis adapted to be impacted against rigid abutment means disposed withinthe freezer compartment and in the normal path of tilting movement ofthe mold.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide, in automaticice making apparatus as aforesaid, means for indicating or signalingthat the water storage tank is either full or substantially empty, andmeans for interrupting operation of the apparatus whenever apredetermined quantity of ice cubes has been accumulated in the cubestoring means.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision ofautomatic ice making and harvesting devices made of simple, commerciallyavailable and relatively inexpensive components so combined as to renderthe said devices substantially foolproof in operation and eliminate theneed for any supervision other than an occasional refilling of the waterstorage tank.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision ofautomatic ice cube making apparatus of the aforesaid type, which may beemployed in conjunction with any refrigerator having a freezercompartment, regardless of whether such compartment is located adjacentthe top or bottom of the refrigerator.

The foregoing and other objects, characteristics and advantages of thepresent invention will be more fully understood from the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a household refrigerator showingelements of one embodiment of the ice cube making apparatus according tothe present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the metering and controlstructure of the ice making apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 36 in FIG. 2 and showsthe ice mold in its water-receiving and freezing position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to that of FIG. 3, but illustratesthe parts of the apparatus in the ice-ejecting position;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the bracket employed to providethe impact location for the to mold or tray as well as the fulcra forthe mold-moving lever;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an ice mold constructed according to thepresent invention; 3

FIG. 7 is a sectional 'view taken along the line 77' in FIG. 6;

in FIG. 3;. Y

FIG. 8a is a sectional view taken along the line 8a--8a in FIG. 8;

FIG. 9 is a schematic wiring diagram for the embodiment of the icemaking apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 8;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of a second embodiment of an icemaking apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary elevational view of the rear of a householdrefrigerator equipped with still another embodiment of an ice makingapparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic wiring diagram for the embodiment of theapparatus shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 3 of yet a fourth embodiment of an icemaking apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a view taken along the line 14-14 in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an enlarged side view of a detail of the structure shown inFIG. 13; and

FIG. 16 is a schematic wiring diagram for the embodiment of theapparatus shown in FIG. 13.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 9 of the drawings, it willbe seen that the ice making apparatus according to the present inventionis employed in conjunction with a household refrigerator 21 having legsor base members 22, a rear Wall 23, side walls 24 and 25, a top wall orroof 26 and a front door 27 mounted on hinges (not shown) and providedwith a handle (not shown) on its front or outer surface. Within therefrigerator 21 at the lower region thereof is provided a freezercompartment 23 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) having a top wall 29 extendinghorizontally forwardly from the refrigerator rear wall 23, and a frontdoor 3t) which may be hinged either vertically or horizontally. Theupper surface of the freezer compartment roof 29. may further serve asthe bottom or floor of the food storage space 31 of the refrigerator.Both the food storage space 31 and the freezer compartment 28 are keptat the desired temperatures by any suitable refrigeration means (notshown), e.g. evaporator coils or the like, with the temperature in thefreezer compartment being, of course, kept well below the freezingtemperature of water.

The compartment door 30, the front wall 32 of which may be insulated byany suitable means, is of considerable depth and hollow to providebetween the said front wall 32 and the rear wall 34 a storing oraccumulation cham ber 33 for ice. Substantially at its base, the frontwall of the door is provided with an outlet opening or window 35providing access to the interior of the freezer compartment door 3t Achannel-shaped door 36 having a knob or handle 37 is mounted by means ofhinges 38 at the lower edge of the window 35 and is normally drawnagainst the wall 32 by means of a spring (not shown). If desired, theinner periphery of the door 36 may be provided with a gasket or likesealing means (not shown). Adjacent its upper end, the rear wall 34 ofthe compartment door 30 is provided with an opening 39 for a purpose tobe more fully explained hereinafter.

The automatic ice making apparatus proper is disposed partly outside therefrigerator and partly within the freezer compartment thereof.Referring now to FIG. 1, a water storage tank 40 is attached to the rearwall 23 of the refrigerator adjacent the upper end thereof by means of aflange member or angle iron 41 and bolts or screws 42. Provided at thetop of the storage tank 40 is a nipple 43 to which is connected one endof a flexible hose 44, the other end of which is equipped with aconnecting piece or nipple 45 adapted to be connected to a standardhousehold water faucet. Provided at the side of the refrigerator is abracket or hook member 46 for supporting the front end of the hose 44when the same is not in use. Alternatively, a small metal plate may besubstituted for the bracket 46, and the hose nipple may be associatedwith a permanent magnet, whereby the hose may be held in place bymagnetic action when not in use. A tensional spool 47 is atfixed to therear wall 23 of the refrigerator adjacent the top thereof and isprovided with a flexible cable 48 of nylon, light cord or wire, attachedto an intermediate portion of the hose 44 so as to retract the latterinto the position shown in FIG. 1 when the nipple 45 is disconnectedfrom the faucet.

Extending through the top of the tank 40 is a whistle pipe or likesignal device 49 the lower end of which is adapted to be covered byWater 50 when the same reaches the level 51 during a filling operation.Thus, as water is entering the tank 40, a Whistle will be heard, and assoon as this sound stops the person attending the refrigerator will knowthat the tank has become full. Located at the other side of the tank 40is "a small switch 52 to which is attached a flexible line 53 carrying afloat 54, the switch 52 being constructed to be open at all times exceptwhen moved to its closed position by the combined weight of the line 53and float 54 when the water in the storage tank 40 is exhausted. A smallsignal lamp 55, preferably red for easy visibility, is connected to theswitch 52 and arranged at the side of the water storage tank 40-.Lighting of this lamp, thus, provides an indication that the tank 40 hasbecome empty.

Provided at the base of the storage tank 40 is an outlet nipple 56 towhich is connected one end of a flexible tube 57 of a relativelyrestricted cross-section. A Water metering tank 58 is arranged below thestorage tank 40 and provided with an angle member or bracket 59 attachedto the top of the metering tank at one side thereof and suspended over arigid pivot pin or rod 60 extending at right angles from the rear 'Wall23 of the refrigerator. The tube 57 communicates with the interior ofthe metering tank 58 through an opening provided in the top of thelatter. Extending laterally from the base of the metering tank 58 and tothe other side of the pivot axis defined by the rod 68' is a platform 61on which is mounted a counterweight 62 which may be held fixed inposition on the platform by any suitable means (not shown). The balanceconditions of this swingable system, i.e., the construction of themetering tank and the choice of the coun* terweight as to its magnitudeand/ or position on the platform are so predetermined that the meteringtank will remain in its full line position shown in FIG. 2 at all timesexcept when filled with the exact quantity of water required for one icecube freezing operation.

A flexible conduit 63 of relatively wide cross-section extends from thebottom of the metering tank 58 and leads to the inlet port of a solenoidvalve 64 of standard construction fixedly attached to the rear wall 23of the refrigerator. From the outlet port of the solenoid valve 64 aflexible tube or conduit 65 leads in an airtight manner through anopening in the rear Wall of the refrigerator into the freezercompartment 28 thereof. The free end 66 of the tube 65 terminates abovean ice mold or tray generally designated 67 and consisting according tothe present invention (see FIG. 6) of a rigid, preferably metal frame 68and an areuately contoured or trough-shaped receptacle portion or body69 made of an elastic, flexible, natural or synthetic plastic materialcapable of withstanding the sub-freezing temperatures normally existingin the compartment 28. Materials such as polyethylene, polyvinylchloride, copolymers of vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate, certainrubbery polymers, and the like have been found particularly well suitedfor this purpose. Substantially at its base, the body 69 of the tray 67is thickened or reinforced by means of a strip of hard or rigid material70 the purpose of which will be made more fully clear hereinafter. Theinterior of the tray body 69 is traversed by a plurality of partitions71 of substantially triangular or trapezoidal cross-section (see FIG.7), each of which is provided at its base with a small recess 72. Inthis manner, the various chambers 73 defined by the partitions 71 are incommunication with one another so as to enable water admitted to one ofthe chambers by means of the conduit 65 to flow from that chamber to allthe others until they are all filled. The two-end walls 74 and 75 of thetray body are slanted so as to diverge from one another in an upwarddirection. Thus, each chamber 73 is essentially trapezoidal incross-section with the wider portion at the top.

At the rear edge of the tray frame 68 are provided two laterallyextending pivot pins 76 by means of which the tray is hinged to a pairof brackets 77 (only one being shown in FIGS. 3 and 4) fixedly attachedto the rear wall 23 of the refrigerator 21 interiorly of the freezercompartment or ,cabinet 28. Also attached to the rear edge of the trayframe 68 and projecting upwardly and rearwardly therefrom is an arm 78.This arm, which is out of contact with the flexible tube 65 as long asthe tray 67 is horizontal, is adapted to engage and deform the tube orconduit 65 when the tray is pivoted downwardly from its horizontalposition shown in FIG. 3 to the inclined position shown in FIG. 4. Inaddition, two laterally extending pivot pins 79 are provided at thefront edge of the tray frame 68, as well as two downwardly dependinglugs 80, the function of which will be explained presently.

A channel-shaped chute or transfer member 81 is pivotally connected atits rear end to the front of the ice mold or tray 67 by means of thepivot pins 79. The front part of the chute 81 rests slidably on a rigidhorizontal bar 82 fixed either at one end or at both ends to one or bothof the side walls 24 and 25 of the refrigerator 21, the forwardmostextremity of the chute extending through the opening 39 in the rear wall34 of the freezer compartment door 30 into the chamber 33.

Directly below the brackets 77 is disposed a bracket 84 (see also FIG.which includes a short vertical flange 84a, 2. horizontal plate 84bextending frontwardly from the flange, a downwardly and forwardlyslanted portion 84c, and a vertical extension 84d depending downwardlyfrom the front edge of the portion 840, the bracket 84 being fixedlymounted within the freezer compartment 28 by means of rivets or bolts 83extending through the flange 84a. The extension 84d is provided with avertical slot 85. The bracket 84 is so positioned that the slantedportion 84c, which is coextensive in length with the thickened orreinforced portion 70 of the ice mold 67, is disposed in the path ofdownward swinging movement of the mold so as to constitute abutmentmeans for the latter, the position of the abutment means 840 relative tothe normal or horizontal position of the ice mold being I so chosen thatthe latter, when inclined downwardly to the greatest possible extent byoperating means still to be described, is deformed as shown in FIG. 4.

The operating means hereinabove referred to may generally be consideredas consisting of two parts, motive means for displacing the ice mold,and actuating means for operating the motive means in conjunction withthe V valve means controlling the flow of water from the storage tank tothe ice mold, as best shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 9. Basically, themotive means comprises a short link 86 articulated at one end to the icemold 67 at the lugs 80 depending from the front edge of the mold frame68, a lever arm 87 articulated at one end to the second end of the link86, and an armature 88 of a solenoid 89, p the armature 88 beingarticulated by means of a pin and a slot connection 90 to the second endof the lever arm 87 and biased outwardly of the solenoid by a spring 91anchored at 91a to the rear wall 23 of the refrigerator. The lever arm87 extends through the slot 85 in the extension 84d of the bracket 84,the upper and lower ends of this slot thus constituting a pair of fulcrafor the lever arm. f In order to enable the latter to extend to and beoperated from the exterior of the refrigerator, the rear wall 23 is rprovided with a slot 92 sufficiently long to accommodate 1 the fullthrow of the lever arm 87 under the action of the armature 88.Insulation of the interior of the freezer compartment 28 isefiicaciously accomplished by means of a strip 93 of sealing material(see also FIG. 8) affixed to the lever arm 87 adjacent the outer surfaceof the rear wall 23 of the refrigerator and guided for closelycontacting movement therealong by a pair of offset guide ledges 94 (seealso FIG. 8a) the length of the strip 93 being such as to ensure thatthe slot 92 is covered in all positions of the lever arm 87.

The actuating means, of which the aforesaid solenoid 89 constitutes apart, comprises an electric circuit and certain additional elements bestshown in FIG. 9. The circuit includes two terminals 95 and 96 to beconnected to the main power line of the refrigerator or of the buildingin which the same is housed. A conductor 97 leads from the terminal 95to one end of the coil of the solenoid 89 and to one terminal of thesolenoid coil of the valve 64. The other end of the coil of the solenoid89 is connected by a conductor 98 to a standard, thermally actuatedcircuit breaker 99 which in turn is connected by a conductor 100including a normally open switch 101 to a conductor 102 connected to thepower input terminal 96. The second terminal of the solenoid valve 64!-is connected via a conductor 103 to a normally closed switch 104- whichin turn is connected via a conductor 105 and a normally open switch 106to the conductor 102. The switch 101 is mounted on the rear wall 23 ofthe refrigerator directly beneath and in the path of swinging movementof the metering tank 58 and is adapted to be closed by the latter whenthe same is substantially in the broken-line position shown in FIG. 2.The switch 104 is normally, i.e., when the solenoid 89 is deenergized,kept closed by an arm 107 of a bell-crank lever 108 pivotally mounted onthe wall 23 at 109 and having a second arm 110 subjected to the upwardbiasing force of a spring 111 so as to ensure continued contact betweenthe arm 110 and the lever arm 87 from underneath. The switch 106 isadapted to be closed by an arm 112 of a bell-crank lever 113 pivotallymounted on the rear wall 23 at 114 and having a second arm 115 carryinga roller 116 at its free end, a spring 117 anchored to the wall 23 beingconnected to the arm 115 and biasing the same in a direction tending tokeep the roller 116 in contact with the lower surface of the platform 61attached to the metering tank 58.

As can further be seen from FIG. 9, the switch 52 and the lamp 55 areconnected in series with one another and across the main power line9"7102 by means of conductors 118 and 119.

Means for interrupting the operation of the ice making device completelywhenever a predetermined amount of ice has been accumulated in the icestoring means are also provided in accordance with the presentinvention. With respect to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 9, this meanscomprises a platform 120 yieldingly mounted, as by means of leaf or coilsprings (not shown), in the ice storing chamber 33 at the bottomthereof, and a normally closed switch 121 disposed under the platform120. As shown in FIG. 9, the switch 121 is incorporated in the conductor97 and thus, when open, breaks the entire circuit. The yieldably mountedplatform constitutes weight-sensitive means and is so constructed thatit will sink a sufiicient distance in the chamber 33 to open the switch121 whenever a predetermined quantity of ice has been amassed in thechamber 33.

In order to ensure that the metering tank 58 will remain in its tiltedposition, to which it was shifted upon becoming full, untilsubstantially all the Water has been drained therefrom through theconduit 63 and valve 64, a permanent magnet 122 is mounted on the rearwall 23 of the refrigerator adjacent the switch 101, while a plate 123of magnetic metal is afilxed to the base of the metering tank. Thestrength and/ or position of the magnet and plate relative to theswinging axis 60 for the tank 58 should be so chosen that thecounterweight means 61-62 will be able to return the metering tank toits normal position (the full-line position shown in FIG. 2) only afterall the water has flowed out through the conduit 63.

The operation of the ice making apparatus of FIGS.

1 to 9 will now be explained. Let it be assumed that the water storagetank is approximately full, as a result of which the switch 52 is open,and that an ice making operation has just been completed with theconsequence that the metering tank 58 is substantially empty and held inits full-line position shown in FIG. 2, and that the tray 67 iswater-filled and horizontal. A small quantity of ice in the form ofhalf-moon-shaped cubes is in the storing chamber 33, whereby the switch121 is closed, and at the same time, with all parts in their positionsshown in FIG. 2, the switch 101 is open, the switch 104 closed and theswitch 106 open. Thus, the solenoid 89 and the solenoid of the valve 64are deenergized.

Water now flows through the conduit 57 from the storage tank 40 to themetering tank 58 at a rate determined by the cross-section of theconduit 57, this rate being such that it will take at least as much timefor the metering tank to become full as for the water in the mold ortray 67 to be frozen, say one hour. As long as the metering tank is lessthan full, it being remembered that its capacity is substantially equalto that of the ice mold, the counterweight 62 holds the metering tank inthe rest position thereof. As soon as this tank becomes full, however,it overcomes the force of the counterweight and swings downwardly(counterclockwise in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9), closing the switch 101 slightlybefore reaching the brokenline position in FIG. 2. This immediatelyenergizes the solenoid 89 while the switch 106 is still open.Energization of the solenoid 80 causes upward movement of the armature38 against the force of the spring 91 together with the rear end of thelever arm 87, the front end of which swings essentially downwardly andforwardly due to the presence of the upper fulcrum constituted by theupper end of the slot 85 in the extension 84d of the bracket 84. Thiscauses a sudden downward swinging of the ice mold 67 about its hingeaxis defined by the pins 76 and impacts the thickened or reinforcedstrip 70 against the slanted bracket portion 84c which in turn causesthe tray body 69 to be deformed as shown in FIG. 4, with the result thatthe ice cubes formed in the mold are ejected into the chute 81, asindicated in broken lines at 12.4. Ejection of the ice cubes is, ofcourse, greatly facilitated by virtue of the trapezoidal shapes of thetray chambers 73 (see FIG. 7).

Concurrently with the upward movement of the armature 88 and lever arm87, the spring 111 draws the arm 110 of the bell-crank lever S upwardlyand the arm 107 away from the switch 104, thereby permitting the latterto become open. The switch 101 is so constructed, as by the provision ofresilient contacts, for example, that the metering tank can swingdownwardly a little further even after the switch 101 is closed, as aresult of which the spring 117 can move the bellcrank lever 113 to suchan extent that the switch 106 is closed. Inasmuch as the switch 104 hasalready been opened, however, the solenoid of the valve 64 remainsdeenergized and the valve closed.

While the ice mold is being cleared of ice cubes, current flows, ofcourse, in the energization circuit 9597- 98-99100101-10296 of thesolenoid -89, raising the temperature of a suitable resistance orimpedance ele ment in the circuit breaker 99. The latter is soconstructed that it reaches its break temperature in the same timeinterval as is required for complete ejection of the ice cubes from theice mold, say two seconds. After this time interval has passed, thecircuit breaker opens the energization circuit for the solenoid 89, andthis permits the spring 91 to draw the armature 88 downwardly togetherwith the lever arm 87. This in turn depresses the arm 110 of thebell-crank lever 108 against the force of the spring 111 and effectsclosing of the switch 104 by the arm 107. The energization circuit 95-97103104105106-10296 for the solenoid of the valve 64 is now completed,thus causing the valve to be opened and permitting Water to flow out ofthe metering tank 58 at a relatively rapid rate, due to the fairly largecross-sections of the conduits 63 and 65. The ice mold, of course, wasreturned to its horizontal position by virtue of the fact that thedownward movement of the armature 88 caused the lever arm 87 to bepivoted about the lower fulcrum constituted by the lower edge of theslot in the extension 84d of the bracket 84, whereby the water flowingthrough the conduits 63 and 65 via the valve 64 leaves the conduit 65 at66 and enters the ice mold, which has by now regained its normal shapedue to the resilience of the material of which it is made, at one of thechambers 73 thereof, traveling to the remaining chambers 73 via thesmall recesses 72 provided in the partitions 71. Concurrently, the chute81, which was shifted to a horizontal position during the ejectionoperation, is returned to a slanted position, enabling the ice cubes toslide therealong and through the opening 39 to fall into the storingchamber 33, as indicated at 125 (FIG. 3). The metering tank 58 remainsin its tilted position due to he magnetic attraction between the magnet122 and the metal plate 123 until substantially all the water has beenexhausted from the tank 58, at which time the counterweight againbecomes effective to overcome the force of the magnet and return themetering tank to its rest position. The depresses the arm of thebell-crank lever 113 and raises the arm 11 2 thereof, permitting theswitch 106 to open and interrupt the energization circuit for thesolenoid of the valve 64, whereby the latter is closed. Water continuesto enter the metering tank '58 through the conduit 57, and the wholecycle is in the process of being repeated. It is to be noted that therate of flow of water through the conduit 57 is so low that even thoughthe latter is never closed during emptying of the metering tank, theamount of water entering the latter during the emptying thereof isnegligible and does not affect operation of the system as a whole.

As the operating cycle is repeated over and over, the ice cubes ejectedfrom the ice mold collect in the chamber 33. Should the weight of theice in the chamber 33 rise above a certain maximum, the platform will bedepressed so as to open the switch 121. This condition, as can bereadily understood, will render the system inoperative even though themetering tank 58 becomes full and tilts over, and further operation willbe inhibited until a sufficient quantity of ice cubes has been removedfrom the storing chamber via the door 36 to permit the platform 120 torise from the switch 121.

rIn the event that the storage tank 40 becomes substantially empty, thefloat 54 will be located adjacent the bottom of this tank, and thecombined weight of the float and its line 53 will effect closing of theswitch 52. The lamp 55 will thus be lit, whereupon it is merelynecessary to take the hose 44 and pull the free end thereof over to anearby faucet to which the nipple 45 may be attached. Thus, not only isit unnecessary to have the refrigerator 21 positioned directly adjacentthe sink or connected to the water main by a permanent line, but it isalso never necessary to remove the ice mold from the freezer compartmentfor the purpose of ejecting ice cubes therefrom or for filling it withwater.

The ice storing means of the embodiment of the invention describedhereinabove may be replaced by a stationary bin if the freezercompartment is not provided with its own door such as 30. This isillustrated in FIG. 10 wherein the front door 27 of the refrigerator ora section of such front door is employed as the closure means for thefreezer compartment 28. The chute and doorcontained storing chamber areeliminated in this embodiment of the invention, and in lieu thereofthere is provided below the bracket 84 in the freezer compartment ahorizontal bracket 126 afiixed to the rear wall 23 of the refrigerator2:1 by screws, bolts or rivets 127 and supporting below the dischargeside of the ice mold a bin or hopper 12 8 the length of which iscoextensive with that of the ice mold. 'The bracket 126 is formed withtwo elongated slots 129 and 130 in its front half into which extend twoflaps or flanges 131 and 132 stamped out from a leaf spring 133supporting the bin 128. Alternatively, two or more leaf springs 133spaced from one another longitudinally of the bin may be employed. Theswitch 121 is positioned below the leaf spring which con stitutes theweight-sensitive means. In all other respects, the structure shown inFIG. is identical with that shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, and thus theoperation of this emobdiment of the invention is the same as that of thepreceding embodiment except for the fact that the ice cubes ejected fromthe ice mold or tray 67 fall directly into the bin 128.

In both of these embodiments of the invention, as stated hereinabove,the tray 67 is provided at its rear edge with a finger or arm 78. Aswill be understood,

during the downward tilting of the ice mold, this finger I will contactthe conduit 65 lying thereabove and will deform the same, as best shownin FIGS. 4 and 10.

In this manner, any ice which may have formed in the conduit 65 iscrushed, thereby preventing blocking of this conduit.

Still another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and12. To the extent that the parts of this apparatus resemble those of thepreviously described embodiments, the same reference numerals areemployed. Thus, the water storage tank 40 equipped with a filling hose44, a float 54 suspended from a line 53 connected to a switch 52connected in series with a signal lamp 55 across the power line byconductors .118 and 119., and a whistle (not shown in FIG. 11) ismounted on the rear wall 23 of the refrigerator. The freezer compartmentin this case may be either that of FIGS. 3 and 4 or that of FIG. 10, andas before the apparatus elements within the freezer compartment areoperated by an armature 88 of a solenoid 89 via a lever arm 87.

In lieu of the tiltable metering tank 58, however, there is provided astationary metering tank 134 which is in communication with the storagetank via a conduit 135 in which a mechanically operable valve 136 isincorporated. A conduit 137 connects the bottom of the metering tank 134to the inlet port of a solenoid valve 133, from the outlet port of whicha flexible tube or conduit 65 leads through the rear wall 23 to the icemold (not shown in FIG. 11). The valves 136 and 138 are mechanicallyconnected by a linkage 139 which is subjected to the biasing force of aspring 140 anchored at 140a to the wall 23. The valves are so arrangedthat the valve 136 is normally open and the valve 138 normally closed,and the linkage is such that when the valve 138 is opened byenergization of its solenoid, the valve 136 is moved to its closed position.

The actuating means for the motive means according to this embodiment ofthe invention comprise an electric circuit having power input terminals141 and 142, the switch 121 which is arranged to be operated by theweightsensitive means being incorporated in a conductor 143 leading fromthe terminal 141 to one end of the coil of the solenoid 89 and to oneterminal of the coil of the solenoid of the valve 138. A clock mechanism144, the driving motor (not shown) of which is connected by a conductor145 to the conductor 14-3 and by a conductor 14-6 to a conductor 147connected to the terminal 142, is equipped with four spaced contacts148, 149, 156 and 151 and with a rotatable arm 152 provided with a Wiperelement 153 arranged to engage the contacts 148 to 151 in sequence andto successively bridge the gaps between the contacts 14-8 and 14-9 andbetween the contacts 156 and 151. The contact 148 is connected by aconductor to the second end of the coil of the solenoid 89. The contacts149 and 151 are connected by conductors 155 and 156 to the conductor147. The contact 151) is connected by a conductor 157 to the secondterminal of the solenoid coil of the valve 138. The clock -mechanism144, which is mounted on the rear wall 23 of the refrigerator, may beprotected by a cover 158,

The operation of this embodiment of the ice making apparatus accordingto the present invention is as follows. Let it be assumed that apreceding ice cube forming and ejecting operation has been completed andthat the clockwise rotating wiper arm 152 is in the position shown inFIG. 12. At this time, therefore, the solenoid 89 and the solenoid ofthe valve 138 are deenergized, the ice mold 67 and its motive means arein the positions indicated in FIG. 3, and the spring biases the linkage139 upwardly to the position shown in FIG. 11 so that the valve 136 isopen and the metering tank 134- filled with Water, while the valve 138is, of course, closed due to the deenergized state of the solenoidthereof. The speed of the driving motor of the clock mechanism 144 issuch that the arm 152 will complete one rotation in a period of time atleast equal to the time required for freezing a quantity of water in theice mold or tray 67.

When the wiper element 153 now bridges the gap between the contacts 148and 149, the solenoid 89 is energized to move the armature 88, the leverarm 87, the link 86 and the ice mold 67 to the positions indicated inFIGS. 4 or 10, depending on whether a storing chamber 33 or a bin 128 isused, thereby ejecting the ice cubes from the mold toward the storingmeans therefor. As soon as the wiper element 153 passes the contact 148,the solenoid 89 is deenergized, whereupon due to the biasing action ofthe spring 91 the motive means are operated to return the ice mold toits horizontal position. During this entire procedure, the valve 138remained closed, but as the wiper element now approaches and ultimatelybridges the gap between the contacts and 151, the solenoid of the valve138 is energized to open the latter while simultaneously, through theintermediary of the linkage 139, causing the valve 136 to be closed. Thewater previously in the metering tank now flows through the conduit 65into the ice mold 67. When the wiper element leaves the contact 150, thevalve 138 is again closed due to the return of the linkage 139 to itsrest position under the force of the spring 140, 'while the valve 136 isopened to permit the entry into the metering tank of a fresh supply ofwater. The cycle is now in the process of being repeated. It is to benoted that the spacing of the contacts of each pair from each other andthe length of the Wiper element are so selected that the respective gapsremain bridged for as long as is necessary to complete the ejecting andmold-filling operations.

A somewhat modified version of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 isillustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16, where again those elements identical withelements shown in FIGS. 1 to 12 are designated by the same referencenumerals. The structure illustrated in FIGS. 13 to 16 differs from thatof FIGS. 11 and 12 mainly in the construction of the motive means fordisplacing the ice mold and the actuating means for operating the motivemeans and the water fiow control valve means. As can be seen from FIG.13, the motive means is eifectively supported by a bracket 159 aflixedto the exterior surface of the rear wall 23 of the refrigerator by meansof bolts, screws or rivets 160. The motive means comprises a solenoid161 which is mounted and fixed on the bracket 159 and has an armature162 extending slidably through a suitable aperture in the wall 23 andconnected at its free end to a link bar 163. The front end of this baris provided with an eye or aperture through which extends a cross rod164-, the latter being freely rotatable within the said eye and heldagainst axial displacement therethrough by means of a pair offrictionally or otherwise stationarily fitted stop members 165 and 166.The opposite ends of the rod 164 are received, respectively, in eyesprovided at one end of each of a pair of link members 167 and 168 whichin turn are pivotally connected at their other ends by pivot pins 169and 170 to two downwardly depending lugs 171 and 172 afiixed to oppositeends of the front edge of the ice mold frame 68a. The lower ends of thelink members 167 and 168 are prevented from 1 1 being separated from therod 164 by two cotter pins 173 and 174.

In all respects other than the lugs 171 and 172, which are employed inlieu of the lugs 80 shown in FIG. 6, the ice mold 67a is identical withthe ice mold 67, being also provided with a pair of rear pivot pins 76by means of which it is hinged to the brackets 77. However, in view ofthe fact that the just described motive means does not include anarmature-biasing spring such as the spring 91 of FIGS. 1 to 12, thefunction of returning the ice mold and motive means to their restpositions is executed by a pair of torsion springs 175 each associatedwith one of the pivot pins 76 and the corresponding bracket 77 (see FIG.Mounted below and in the path of tilting movement of the ice mold is abracket or abutment means 176 which, except for the omission of theextension 84d, is substantially identical with the bracket 84 shown inFIGS. 3 and 4.

The actuating means for the motive means in this embodiment of theinvention comprise an electric circuit having power input terminals 177and 178 across which the indicating lamp 55 and its switch 52 operableby the float 54 in the storage tank 40 are connected by conductors 118and 119. An electric clock mechanism 179, the driving motor of which(not shown) is connected by conductors 180 and 181 to conductors 182 and183 connected in turn to the terminals 177 and 178, respectively, ismounted on the rear wall 23 of the refrigerator and is equipped with aplurality of circumferentially spaced contacts 184, 185, 186, 187 and.188 and with a rotatable arm 189 carrying a wiper element 190 adaptedto engage the contacts sequentially and to bridge the gaps therebetween.The contacts 184 and 186 are connected to the conductor 182, and thecontact 185 is connected by a conductor 191 to one terminal of thesolenoid 161, the other terminal of which is connected by a conductor192 to the conductor 183 which is also connected to one terminal of thecoil of the solenoid valve 138. The contact 187 is connected by aconductor 193 to the second terminal of the coil of the solenoid valve138, and the contact .188 is connected by a conductor 194 to theconductor 182. For the purpose of protecting the clock mechanism, thelatter may be provided with a cover 195.

In operation, assuming the same conditions as set forth hereinabove forthe preceding embodiments of the apparatus, as the wiper element bridgesthe gap between the contacts 184 and 185 the solenoid 161 will beenergized to draw the ice mold 67a down suddenly through theintermediary of the armature 162, link bar 163, and link frame 164167168to impact the thickened portion 70 against the slanted portion 176a ofthe bracket or abutment means 176. The blow will be of relatively shortduration and the deformation of the tray body not necessarily as greatas illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 10, but nevertheless the formed ice cubeswill tend to be separated from the ice mold surfaces and ejected towardthe ice storing means, i.e., either into the chute 81 or into the bin128. As the arm 189 rotates further, the wiper element 190 leaves thecontact 184 to deenergize the solenoid 161, permitting the springs 175to return the ice mold toward its horizontal position, but within a veryshort time interval the wiper element bridges the gap between thecontacts 185 and 186, so that the ice mold is again impacted against theabutment means 176 due to reenergization of the solenoid 161, and thusany ice which was not ejected the first time will now be ejected. Whilethis is taking place, the solenoid valve 138 remains closed and thevalve 136 (not shown in FIGS. 13 and 16) remains open.

When the wiper element leaves the contact 185, the solenoid 161 is againdeenergized and the ice mold and the motive means are returned to theirrest positions, as shown in FIG. 13. Upon further rotation of the arm189, the wiper element 190 ultimately bridges the gap between thecontacts 187 and 188, whereby the solenoid valve 138 is opened, thevalve 136 closed by the linkage 139, and the water from the meteringtank permitted to flow through the conduit 65 into the ice mold. As soonas the contacts 187 and 188 are again disconnected by continued movementof the arm 189, the solenoid of the valve 138 is deenergized to closethe latter and open the valve 136 through the intermediary of thelinkage 139 under the action of the spring 140 (FIG. 12), therebyenabling a fresh supply of water to flow into the metering tank 134 viathe conduit 135. The cycle is then in the process of being repeated.

The embodiment of FIGS. 13 to 16 may be somewhat further modified so asto eliminate the metering tank entirely. For this purpose, the tank 134constitutes the storage tank (designated 40 in the precedingembodiments), and the valve 136, as well as the linkage 139 may bedispensed with. Only the solenoid valve 138 is retained, and a spacingof the contacts 187 and 188 on the clock mechanism 179 in conjunctionwith a length of the wiper element are chosen so as to ensure that the lvalve remains open, due to bridging of the gap between i the contacts187 and 188 and consequent energization of the solenoid of this valve,as long as is required for the properly metered quantity of water toflow from the storage tank into the ice mold or tray 67a.

It will be easily understood that the arrangements according to thepresent invention are highly compact and thus take up considerably lessspace in the freezer cornpartment of the refrigerator than any of theheretofore known ice cube making devices. Not only is the cost ofmanufacture of both the refrigerator and the ice making apparatusthereby decreased, but the quantity of food which may be stored in afreezer compartment equipped with an ice cube making apparatus accordingto the present invention is greater than that which can be stored inconventional refrigerators equipped with ice cube making devices of theknown types.

Although the various embodiments of the apparatus according to theinvention have been described as combined with refrigerators having thefreezer compartment located in their lower regions, it will be readilyunderstood that the principles of the present invention are equallyapplicable to refrigerators having the freezer compartment located intheir upper regions. In such a case, however, it will be necessary toposition the water storage tank atop the refrigerator, and the meteringtank (if one is used) adjacent the top of the refrigerator. In otherwords, it is merely necessary that the storage tank be located at ahigher elevation than the metering tank which in turn must be located ata higher elevation than the ice mold.

Viewed in a broad sense, therefore, the invention comprises theprovision of ice mold means, water storage means (which may or may notinclude water metering tank means), conduit means including valve meansleading from the water storage means to the ice mold means, andelectromechanical means, i.e., the motive means and the actuating meanstherefor, operable cyclically and in timed sequence to first subject theice mold means to at least one ice-ejecting impact and thereafter toopen the valve means for a predetermined time interval to permit fiow ofa metered quantity of water, sufficient to substantially fill the icemold means for the next freezing operation, from the storage meansthrough the conduit means and to the mold means.

A number of preferred embodiments of the invention has been describedhereinabove, but it is understood that this disclosure is for thepurpose of illustration only, and that various changes in shape,proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution ofequivalent elements for the arrangements shown and described, may bemade without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

Having thus particularly described the invention, what 13 is claimed anddesired to be protected by Letters Patent 1s:

1. In combination with a household refrigerator equipped with a freezercompartment; resiliently deformable ice mold means made of elasticsynthetic plastic material and mounted Within said freezer compartment,conduit means leading to said ice mold means, valve means arranged insaid conduit means and controlling the flow of water therethrough, andsolenoid means operatively connected to said ice mold means and saidvalve means and operable cyclically and in timed sequence to first causesaid ice mold means to be subjected to at least one mold-deforming andice-ejecting impact, then to return said ice mold means to the initialposition thereof while said ice mold means regains the normal shapethereof due to the resilience of said material, and thereafter to opensaid valve means for a predetermined time interval to permit flow of ametered quantity of water, suflicient to substantially fill said icemold means for the next freezing operation, through said conduit meansand to said ice mold means.

2. In combination with a household refrigerator having a freezercompartment; resiliently deformable ice mold means made of elasticsynthetic plastic material and movably mounted in said freezercompartment, conduit means leading to said ice mold means, valve meansincorporated in said conduit means and controlling the flow of watertherethrough, abutment means located in said freezer compartment in thepath of movement of said ice mold means, and solenoid means operativelyconnected with said ice mold means and said valve means for operatingthe same cyclically and in timed sequence so as to first impact said icemold means against said abutment means to cause deformation of said moldmeans and consequent ejection of a formed quantity of ice from said icemold means, thereafter to return said ice mold means to the initialposition thereof while said ice mold means regains the normal shapethereof due to the resilience of said material, and finally to operatesaid valve means to permit flow, through said conduit means and intosaid ice mold means, of a metered fresh supply of water sufficient forforming another quantity of ice.

3. In combination with a household refrigerator having a freezercompartment; water storage means mounted on said refrigerator,resiliently deformable ice mold means made of elastic synthetic plasticmaterial and movably mounted in said freezer compartment, conduit meansleading from said water storage means to said ice mold means, valvemeans incorporated in said conduit means and controlling the flow ofwater therethrough, abutment means located in said freezer compartmentin the path of movement of said ice mold means, ice storing meanslocated within said freezer compartment, and solenoid means operativelyconnected with said ice mold means and said valve means for operatingthe same cyclically and in timed sequence so as to first impact said icemold means against said abutment means to cause deformation of said icemold means and consequent ejection of a formed quantity of ice from saidice mold means toward said ice storing means, thereafter to return saidice mold means to the initial position thereof while said ice mold meansregains the normal shape thereof due to the resilience of said material,and finally to operate said valve means to permit flow of a meteredquantity of water, sufiicient for forming another quantity of ice, fromsaid water storage means through said conduit means and into said icemold means.

4. The combination of claim 3, further comprising means operated inresponse to accumulation of a predetermined amount of ice in saidstoring means for inbibiting operation of said solenoid means to therebyprevent further flow of water into said ice mold means pending reductionof the amount of ice in said ice storing means. i

5. In combination with a household refrigerator having 14 a freezercompartment; water storage means mounted on said refrigerator,resiliently deformable ice mold means made of elastic synthetic plasticmaterial and having opposite edges, said ice mold means being hingedlysupported at one of said edges in said freezer compartment and normallydisposed in a substantially horizontal position, conduit means leadingfrom said water storage means to said ice mold means, valve meansincorporated in said conduit means and controlling the flow of watertherethrough, abutment means located in said freezer compartment belowand in the path of movement of said ice mold means, ice storing meanslocated Within said freezer compartment, ice transfer means having areceiving portion hinged to the other of said opposite edges of said icemold means and further having a discharge portion swingably positionedabove said ice storing means, and electro-mechanical means operativelyconnected with said ice mold means at said other edge thereof and withsaid valve means for operating the same cyclically and in timed sequenceso as to first pivot said ice mold means downwardly about its hinge axisto a slanted position so as to impact said ice mold means against saidabutment means to cause deformation of said ice mold means andconsequent ejection of a formed quantity of ice from said ice mold meansinto said ice transfer means, thereafter to return said ice mold meansto said horizontal position thereof and to permit said ice mold means toregain the normal shape thereof due to the resilience of said materialwhile tilting said ice transfer means so as to cause sliding movement ofthe ejected ice therealong and via said discharge portion thereof intosaid ice storing means, and finally to operate said valve means topermit flow of a metered quantity of water, sufficient for forminganother quantity of ice, from said water storage means through saidconduit means and into said ice mold means.

6. The combination of claim 5, said ice mold means comprising anelongated, channel-shaped body, and a plurality of transverse partitionmembers arranged in said body and dividing the same into a plurality ofchambers, each of said partition members being wider at its lower edgethan at its upper edge and provided at said lower edge with a recess topermit flow of water from any one of said chambers to the others, theexterior of said body at the bottom thereof being provided with athickened, non-deformable region for engagement with said abutmentmeans.

7. An automatic ice making and harvesting apparatus for a householdrefrigerator having a freezer compartment, comprising a resilientlydeformable ice cube tray provided with a rigid frame hingedly mounted ata first edge thereof within said compartment for reciprocal pivotalmovement of said tray from a horizontal position to a downwardlyinclined position, a water storage tank supported by said refrigeratorexteriorly of said compartment, a Water metering tank supported by saidrefrigerator exteriorly of said compartment and below said storage tankbut at an elevation higher than that of said tray, first conduit meansinterconnecting said storage and metering tanks, second conduit meansleading from said metering tank to said tray and including a valve,mechanical linkage means connected'to said tray frame at a second edgethereof opposite said first edge for displacing said tray along its pathof pivotal movement, abutment means fixedly disposed in said compartmentfor engagement by said tray during downward pivotal movement of thelatter to said inclined position thereof so as to deform said tray andcause ejection therefrom of any ice formed therein, and electric circuitmeans including solenoid means controlling said valve and saidmechanical linkage means in synchronism with one another to ensure thatflow of water from said metering tank to said tray is initiated onlyupon return of the latter to said horizontal position thereof. 1

8. An automatic ice making apparatus for a household refrigerator havinga freezer compartment, comprising resiliently deformable ice mold meansmade of elastic synthetic plastic material and hingedly mounted withinsaid compartment for reciprocal pivotal movement between a horizontalposition and a downwardly inclined position, a water storage tank and awater metering tank supported by said refrigerator, conduit means havingvalve means incorporated therein leading from said storage tank to saidmetering tank and thence to said ice mold means, motive means operablefor displacing said mold means rapidly along the path of pivotalmovement thereof, abutment means fixedly disposed in said compartmentand adopted to be impacted by said mold means during downward pivotalmovement of the latter to said inclined position thereof, such impact ofsaid mold means against said abutment means serving to deform said moldmeans and cause ejection therefrom of any ice formed therein, andsolenoid equipped actuating means controlling the operation of saidvalve means and said motive means in synchronism with one another toensure that flow of water from said metering tank to said mold means isinitiated only upon return of the latter to said horizontal positionthereof while having regained the normal shape thereof due to theresilience of said material.

9. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 8, furthercomprising hose means connected at one end to said storage tank andprovided with nipple means at the other end for connection to a waterfaucet to permit filling of said storage tank, first signal meansoperable during filling of said storage tank for indicating when thesame has become full, and second signal means for indicating when saidstorage tank has become substantially empty.

10. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 8, furthercomprising ice storing means located substantially within saidcompartment and positioned to receive any ice ejected from said moldmeans, and means operated in response to accumulation of a predeterminedquantity of ice in said storing means for inhibiting operation of saidactuating means to thereby present further flow of water into said icemold means.

11. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 8, said meteringtank being arranged at a higher elevation on said refrigerator than saidice mold means, and said storage tank being arranged at a higherelevation on said refrigerator than said metering tank.

12. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 8, said ice moldmeans means comprising a rigid frame provided at an edge thereof withmeans pivotally connecting said frame to the mounting therefor, and atroughshaped body supported by said frame and provided with a pluralityof transverse partitions substantially triangular in cross-section anddividing said body into a plurality of chambers, said body being made ofsaid elastic, plastic material and the latter being capable ofwithstanding temperature conditions normally obtaining in said freezercompartment, said body being provided with a strip of thick, relativelynon-deformable material attached to the exterior of said bodysubstantially at the lowermost portion of the latter, said strip beingpositioned for engagement with said abutment means, downward pivotalmovement of said frame subsequent to such engagement causing thedeformation of said body, each of said partitions being provided with arecess at its lowest and widest point, whereby water, when admitted toone of said chambers from said conduit means, may fiow via said recessesfrom said one chamber into all of the remaining chambers to fill thesame.

13. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 8, said meteringtank being suspended beneath said storage tank for swinging movementabout a substantially horizontal axis disposed at one side of saidmetering tank, counterweight means carried by said tank on the otherside of said axis of such a magnitude as to tend to hold said meteringtank in an upwardly slanted position at all times except when completelyfull of water, that portion of said conduit means leading from saidstorage tank to said metering tank being narrow in cross-section so asto restrict the rate of flow of water into said metering tank to a valueensuring filling of said metering tank in at least the same period oftime as is required for freezing any water in said ice mold means, saidvalve means being incorporated in that portion of said conduit meansleading from said metering tank to said ice mold means, said actuatingmeans comprising electric circuit means including first and secondsolenoids for operating said motive means and said valve means,respectively, a first normally open switch disposed below said meteringtank and adapted to be closed by the latter when the same is completelyfilled and being swung downwardly against the force of saidcounterweight means to permit energization of said first solenoid, asecond normally closed switch adapted to be opened by said motive meansin response to operation thereof for displacing said mold meansdownwardly upon energization of said first solenoid to thereby preventenergization of said second solenoid, a third normally open switchdisposed below said counterweight means and adapted to be closed, apredetermined time interval after closing of said first switch, due toupward displacement of said counterweight means in conjunction withdownward swinging of said metering tank, and normally closed circuitbreaker means operable to open the energization circuit for said firstsolenoid a predetermined time interval after closing of said firstswitch to enable reclosing of said second switch by said motive means,during return of said mold means to said horizontal position thereof,for energization of said second solenoid so as to operate said valvemeans to permit flow of water therethrough to said ice mold means.

14. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 13, said motivemeans comprising an armature for said first solenoid, a lever armarticulated at one end to said armature, a link articulated at its firstend to the other end of said lever arm and at its second end to said icemold means, and a spring biasing said armature outwardly of said firstsolenoid, said abutment means comprising a bracket fixedly mounted insaid freezer compartment and provided with an impacting portionengageable by said ice mold means to cause the deformation of the latterand consequent ejection of said ice therefrom, said bracket beingfurther provided with an extension depending downwardly from saidimpacting portion and defining a vertical slot through which said leverarm extends and the upper and lower ends of which constitute fulcra forsaid lever arm.

15. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 14, furthercomprising ice storing means located within said freezer compartment,displaceable weight-sensitive means arranged at the bottom of said icestoring means, and a fourth normally closed switch incorporated in saidelectric circuit means and disposed below said weightsensitive means soas to be opened by the latter for opening said circuit means in itsentirety upon accumulation of a predetermined amount of ice in said icestoring means.

16. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 15, furthercomprising a hollow front door for said freeze] compartment, theinterior of said door constituting saic' ice storing means, chute meansextending from said ice mold means to the upper region of said interiorof saic door for transfer to the latter of ice ejected from saic icemold means, said door being provided with an outle' opening at the lowerregion of said interior, and closure means covering said outlet openingand displaceable rela tive thereto to provide access to said interior ofsaid doo: for removal of ice therefrom, said weight-sensitive mean;being located within said interior of said door at saic lower regionthereof.

17. Automatic ice making apparatus according to clain 15, said icestoring means comprising a bin disposed 17 within said freezercompartment beneath the discharge side of said ice mold means, and saidweight-sensitive means comprising upwardly arched leaf spring meanssupporting said bin and overlying said fourth switch.

18. Automatic ice making apparatus according to claim 8, said meteringtank being stationarily mounted beneath said water storage tank, saidvalve means comprising a first normally open valve arranged in thatportion of said conduit means leading from said storage tank to saidmetering tank, a second normally closed valve arranged in that portionof said conduit means leading from said metering tank to said ice moldmeans, and a mechanical linkage interconnecting said first and secondvalves for joint operation in opposite senses, said actuating meanscomprising electric circuit means including first and second solenoidsfor operating said motive means and said second valve, respectively, andan electric clock mechanism comprising two pairs of contactsincorporated, respectively, in the energization circuits of said firstand second solenoids, and a motor-driven, rotatable wiper arm completingone circuit in the time required for freezing a quantity of water insaid ice mold means and constructed to close and open the first one ofsaid pairs of contacts and in timed sequence thereafter the other ofsaid pairs of contacts.

19. An automatic ice making apparatus for a household refrigeratorhaving a freezer compartment, comprising resiliently deformable ice moldmeans hingedly mounted within said compartment for reciprocal pivotalmovement between a horizontal position and a downwardly inclinedposition, a water storage tank supported by said refrigerator, conduitmeans having valve means incorporated therein leading from said storagetank to said ice mold means, motive means operable for displacing saidmold means along the path of pivotal movement thereof, abutment meansfixedly disposed in said compartment for impacting engagement by saidmold means during downward pivotal movement of the latter to saidinclined position thereof so as to cause ejection from said mold meansof any ice formed therein, and actuating means controlling the operationof said valve means and said motive means in synchronism with oneanother to ensure that flow of water from said storage tank to said moldmeans is initiated only upon return of the latter to said horizontalposition thereof and upon said ice mold means having tresilientlyregained the normal shape thereof, said actuating means comprisingelectric circuit means including first and second solenoids foroperating said motive means and said valve means, respectively, and anelectric clock mechanism provided with two sets of contacts arranged inthe energization circuits for said first and second solenoids,respectively, said mechanism being further provided with a motor-drivenrotating wiper arm completing one rotation in the time required tofreeze a quantity of water in said ice mold means and constructed toclose and open the first one of said sets of contacts and in timedsequence thereafter the other of said sets of contacts.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,407,058 Clum Sept. 3, 1946 2,697,918 Comstock Dec. 28, 1954 2,717,500Ploeger Sept. 13, 1955 2,752,762 Gaugler July 3, 1956 2,785,539 SimmonsMar. 19, 1957 2,808,707 Chace Oct. 8, 1957 2,826,899 Mufiiy Mar. 18,1958

